NEW DELHI, 28 December 2006 — Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said yesterday that his government was committed to ending discrimination against the Muslims and other minorities.
Brushing aside the opposition Bharatiya Janata Party’s charge of appeasing Muslims, Manmohan said the minorities, including Muslims, had not shared the fruits of development and pledged to take measures to end “such inequities.”
Speaking at a Dalit-Minority International Conference here, Manmohan said some minorities, particularly the Jains and Sikhs, had fared relatively well in the process of social and economic development.
“However, other minorities, especially the Muslim community in certain parts of our country, have not had an equal share of the fruits of development,” he said.
“It is incumbent upon any democratically-elected government to redress such imbalances and eradicate such inequities. Our government is indeed committed to doing so.”
Manmohan noted that the plight of Muslims had been highlighted by the data provided in the Sachar Committee report, which conducted a study on the social, economic and educational status of the community in the country.
Former Prime Ministers V. P. Singh and I.K. Gujral were present at the conference organized by Lok Janshakti Party, headed by Union Steel Minister Ramvilas Paswan. Muhammad Adil, CEO of a Riyadh-based Saudi company, was a special guest at the conference.
“Even as absolute poverty may be reduced by growth, inequalities can grow. This can be politically and socially destabilizing. Hence, we have to take steps that reduce social and economic inequalities, without hurting the process of growth and without reducing the incentives for individual enterprise and creativity.”
But he emphasized that administrative measures the government takes to develop the capabilities of such groups are not the end-all of actions against social discrimination and disparities.
“We need a change in mindsets. This requires a wider, broad-based social, political and cultural movement against all forms of discrimination and injustice. The battle for social equality has to be waged and won in our minds.
“We have to recognize that even in a free society there are glass windows and glass ceilings. The first step in dealing with such problems is to recognize their existence.
“The second step is to come up with universally acceptable policies that are not viewed as a zero sum game, but as win-win solutions through which everyone is better off and no one is worse off.”
Equating “untouchability” with apartheid, the prime minister also spoke of the plight of Dalits, saying they faced a “unique discrimination” in society.
“Dalits have faced a unique discrimination in our society that is fundamentally different from the problems of minority groups in general. The only parallel to the practice of “untouchability” was apartheid,” he said.
“Untouchability is not just social discrimination. It is a blot on humanity,” Manmohan told the two-day meet being attended by delegates from 83 countries.
“Even after 60 years of constitutional and legal protection and support, there is still social discrimination against Dalits in many parts of our country. The political, social, cultural and intellectual battle against such discrimination must continue.
“Our government is deeply and sincerely committed to the equality of all sections of our society and will take all necessary steps to help in the social, educational and economic empowerment of Dalits.” Manmohan said that the problems of minorities should be dealt with based on certain universal principles.
“These principles, I believe, are defined by the idea of equality before law, the universal application of the rule of law, commitment to basic human rights, and the right of minority groups to protect, preserve and promote the values cherished by such groups.”
He urged the conference to “pay more attention to finding solutions to a problem rather than merely harp on the problem”.
The prime minister made a pointed reference to Narendra Jadhav of the Reserve Bank of India, saying his book “Outcaste” had deeply moved him. “It was a soul-stirring account of empowerment and liberation.”
